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T. M. MANSON AIR SERVICE EQUIPMENT May 31, 1932. Re. 18,483

Original Filed Oct. 7, 192a 2 Sheets-sheet 1 T. M. MANSON .AIR SERVICE EQUIPMENT May 31, 1932. Re. 18,483

Original Filed Oct. 7, 192a 2 Sheets-sheet 2 Reissued May 31 1932 UNITED STA. Es PATENT OFFICE THOMAS M. HANSON, OF TORONTO, ON TABIO, CANADA, ABSIGNOR TO SERVICE STATION EQUIPMENT COMPANY, OF BRYAN, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE AIR SERVICE EQUIPMENT Original No. 1,681,188, dated Karen 6, 1928, Serial No. 140,222, aled'ootober 7, 1928. Application for reillae filed-July 15, 1929. aerial No. 878,542.

My invention relates to air service equipment in which the flow of air from a tank or other source to an automobile pneumatic tire or other receiver is controlled by means of a valve which is designed to sever the communication between the source and receiver when air under suflicient pressure has been su )phed to the receiver.

n such apparatus, means are employed, 1n-

, fluenced b the 1pressure of the air within the receiver, or e ecting-closure of the valve, such means being regulable so that diflerent receivers may be supplied with air under different pressures. Forexample, pneumatic tires may be supplied with air under different pressure suited to the desires of the users thereof and the nature and purpose of the tires. By means of such apparatus as this, it is not necessary to disconnect the receiver from the source, from time to time, to ascertain the degree of air pressure within the receiver being supplied. In the case of air service stations equipped to furnish automobile pneumatic tires with air, it is customary to emplo re lable means which will permit the supply 0 air to tires up to a ressure of eighty pounds, without the necessity of testing. Occasionally,,a motor vehicle, such as a truck, is supplied with pneumatic tires requiringgreater air pressure.' In order that an air service station equipped with the regu- In the preferred embodiment of the 'invention, the regulable means that controls the closure of the valve performsiits function normally throughout the range of pressures which are to be su plied to receivers without testing. This regu able means includes a controlling element which may be manuall adjusted be 0nd its normal range of atiiustment an when being adjusted beyond its normal-range of adjustment, mechanism in conjunction therewith comes into play to maintain the valve open. Bythis means no testing is required during the time that the pressure up to normal maximum is' being supplied to the receiver but when the remainin pressure is being su plied, above the norm maximum, testing 0 the ressure supplied to the receiver is proceeded with from time to time, as hitherto.

The apparatus of my invention is of particular service in connection with those air service equipments in which air is supplied from the sources to the pipin that leads to the receiver at the .pressure 0 the source instead of having this pressure reduced at the piping leading to the receiver, through the invention is not to be thus limited.

The preferred embodiment of my invention is shown'in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a front view of the preferred form of regulating apparatus; Fig. 2 is an elevation 0 part ofthe mechanism shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a rear view of the mechanism, a cover plate removed andparts beingshown in section, the apparatus being adusted to correspond with a pressure within the normal ran of pressures; Fig. 4 is a view showing the a justment of the apparatus to permit of the application of pressure be-' yond the normal range of pressures, this figure illustrating the valve held open; Fig. 5 is a sectional view on line 55 of Fig. 4; and Fig. 6 is a sectional view on line 6-6 of Fig. 4-. I 1 n equipment for supplying pneumatic tires with air under pressure, there is pro- I0 vided 'a receiver ortank 10' for compressed air, a pipe 10 for conducting air from the tank or receiver, and a flexible service hose 11' having at its discharge endan ordinary valve-controlled chuck 11. Casing 12 encloses part of the operating mechanism and municating by means of a lateral passage 21 with the tube 1. In the passage 19 is mounted the valve 24 adapted to cooperate with'the valve seat 20, having the stem 26 slidably mounted in a guide opening in the wall of the casing 18. A s ring tends to hold the valve 24 seated. tone end of the'casing 12 is a diaphragm chamber 113 inf which is arranged a diaphragm 14 against which rests u aplate 15. A pin 16 rojeofi from the plate 15 slidably through t e inner wall 17 of the diaphra chamber. A fitting 11", preferabl of i T type, communicates with the tu 11 and'gwith the b -pass 22 extending 80 through the outer wall ,1 of the diaphragm chamber 13 and also with the service hose 11 It will be obvious that when the valve 24 is open, air may pass from the pipe 10 through the casing 18 and the tube 11 and the fittin 11" to the service hose 11' and also throng the by-pass 22 to the diaphragm chamber 13-. At the end of the casi 18, which is mounted in the wall of the casing 12, is a filler sleeve 18 and packing 18 Extending through the packing nut, the packing and into the sleeve 18* in alignment with the stem 26 is plunger 26', having the perforated end 26'. passage 22 is'mounted a choker 27 having a sage 28 at one end communicates with'fii. transverse groove 28' in the end of the choker 27. A similar but much smaller groove 29 is provided inthe other end of the choker 27 and ing loosely through this pasage is a pin 30 having on one end a head 31, adapted when the pin is raised. to close the outer end of the passage 28, except for'the groove 29, and having on its other end a head 32. When air is flowin' from the pipe 22 into the diahragm c amber, the passage 28 is restricted y the head 31 .of the; '30 to theamount flioftair which can pass it ough the oove 29. On the other hand, the groove 28' is of such size that the flow of air out of the diaphragm chamber is not restricted by the head 32.

Thus air will more quickly flow from the diaphragm chamber than it flows into it. The

advantage of this arrn't will hereindevice for changin In the passage 28 extending through it. The pas-- communicates with the passage 28. Extendafter more fully appear. Any other suitable the rate of fiow of air to and from the iaphragm chamber may be used.

Pivoted in the casing 12 as at 3,3, is a lever 34, one end of which is ada ted to coact with 'the pin or plunger 16, so t atjwhen the diahragm 14 is moved upwardly, the lever .34 is actuated for movement in. onefdirection.

A screw bolt 35 is slidably extended through 'for regulating the tension on the spring 36v fora usting the device to sup ly the desired pressure to the tire, thereby dbtermining the pressure to be sosupplied. On the end of the screw bolt 35 outside the casing 12 is mounted'a tubular screw-threaded sleeve 37 on which is a crank handle 38. 'It will be seen by screwing the sleeve 37 a ainst the casing 12 in one direction, the tension of the sgrin 36 will be increased, while by rotating t e s eeve 37 in the opposite direction, the tension of the spring 36 will be decreased.

' Means are also provided. for visibly indicating the ressure for which the device isadjusted." ounted on the casing 12 is a guide casing 39 in which travels a rack bar A pin 41 extends from the screw bolt 35 through a slot 42 in the wall of the casing 12 and connects with the rack bar 40, so that the. longitudinal movement of the screw bolt 35 imparts movement to the rack bar 40. Supported on the casing 39 is a projecting casing 43, which carries a shaft 44. On the inner end of the shaft 44 is a pinion 45, which meshes with the rack bar 40. Supported on the outer end of the casing 43 is a dial or the like 46, having suitable indicating characters 47 thereon, to indicatevarious numbers of pounds of pressure. On the outer end of the shaft 44 is an indicatin finger 48. The parts are soarranged that the finger 48 will move to positions adjacent to the proper indicating characters 47 for showing the pressure to which the device is adjusted to inflate the tire. Pivotally mounted in the casing 12 is a lever or the like 49, mounted on the pivot 50 and havin the limits of its movement on its pivot fixed y means of stop pins 51 and 52. One end of the lever 49 is designed to coact with the end of the stem 26 through the following described mechanism; A- U-shaped piece of wire 49 has one end inserted through the lever. 49 and the other end inserted through the perforated end 26 of. the plunger 26', thereby forming an operative connecting link between the plunger 26 and the le- .ver 49. The link 49 is held against acci for limitin 55. A in 56 of substantially smaller diameter lian the hole 55 projects through the hole, the walls of which thus serve as stops the ivotally movement of the links 54. he pm 56 is pivoted to an arm 57 which is extended through a slot 58 in the lever 34. In the slot 58 is mounted a roller 59. The arm 57 has a V-shaped point 60 arranged to coact with the roller 59. A spring 61 is secured to the arm 57 and to the stop pin 52 for yieldin 1y holding the arm 57 in engagement with t e roller 59, and also for actuating the arm 57 lengthwise as provided for by the structure and mounting of the links 54 as hereinafter described. A pin 62 extends from the lever 49 through a hole 63 in the wall of thecasing 12.' A striker arm 64 is'pivoted on the casing 12 and at one end forms a bell tapper.- This tends to drop by gravity till it rests away from contact with the bell. Mounted on a post 66 on the casing 12is a bell 67.

Assuming that it is desired to put sixty pounds of air into the tire, the operator turns the crank 38 for rotating the screw-threaded sleeve 37 on the screw bolt 35. The pin 41 acituates the rack bar 40 for thereby rotating the pinion 45 and moving; the indicating finger-48 around the face of t e dial to the characters are so-adjusted that the tension of thespring 36 will then be such that it will require sixty pounds pressure on the diaphragm 14 to overcome the tension of the spring 36, and,

consequently, as will more fully appear, when sixty ounds pressure has been placed in the tire, is e device will no longer operate. It is entirely practical and customary for receivers, for instance,sucli as 10', to be regularly supplied with air pressure considerably higher than the maximum pressu're'to wlnch it is desired to inflate any tire.. Such higher pressure in the receiver is'necessaiiyt for the proper operation of this device.

willbe understood that before the device is assembled in the final installation, the spring 36 will have been put under some tension, and when under tension, the lever 34 will stand in its full line position for holding the valve 24 open. When the tube 10 is connected with the receiver 10, the receiver pressure is built up in the tube 11', closed by the chuck 11 This. ressure also passes slowly through the cho er 27, into the diaphragm chamber and being higher than the maximum tension which is ever applied to the spring 36 Will actuate the lever 34, movenough to cause t The device stem of the automobile tire and air passes out through the pipe 11 and the service hose 11',

the pressurein the hose ll'and in the pipe 11 and in the diaphragm chamber 13 will reduced, whereupon the spring 36 will actuate the lever 34. When the roller 59 passes over the point 60, the spring 61 will cause the left-hand beveled face of the point 60 to travel along the roller 59 for moving the arm 57 to the right. This will cause the link and the tube 11', and through the groove 29 and the ber. I

The sizes and arrangements and mounting of the parts are such" as to provide air passages sufiiciently' large that when the valve 24 is open'ed, the full pressure of the receiver passage 28 to the (haphragmcham- 11', and is maintained in spite of the dis charge into the tube and diaphragm chamber. This pressure is admitted to the diav or source of air supplyis admitted to the hose thereon indicatingsixty pounds. The parts p'hragm chamber more slowly on account of the reduced passage 29 and approximately one or two pounds is supplied to the tire before the diaphra m pressure becomes great l ie diaphragm to actuate the lever 34, moving it toward the right against the tension of the spring 36, until the roller 59 travels over the point 60 and again closes the valve 24. When the arm 49, moves to the dotted line position, allowing thev valve 24 to close, the pin 62 strikes the upper end of-the arm 64, so that the tapper end strikes the bell and then moves away and stands slightly spaced from it. Thus the bell is tappedevery time the valve is closed; With the ressure in the I valve .24 again closed, the tubes 11' and 11 and in the diaphragm chamber 13 equalize s with the pressure in the tire and if this pressure is still lower than that 'equalizes with the tire,'it still be high for which the device is set, in this instance enough that the spring 36 can no longer actuate the lever 34 against the pressure on the diaphragm 14, whereupon the operations cease. The valve 24 remains closed and no I more air is admitted from the receiver and the tapping of the bell also ceases, indicating to the user that the tire pressure has reached the point at which the indicator 48 is set.

In this connection, it will be remembered that the spring 61 is so arranged that it tends not only to hold the arm 57 in engagement with the roller 59, but also to move the arm 57 sli htly to the left.

%wing to the pressure of the spring 25 and the action of the air on both valves 24 and the plunger 26, the valve 24 is being urged to seat before the roller 59 passes the point 60. Should this occur, it would be. possible for the point to assume a'ba'lanced position on the roller 59 and thus cause the action of the lever 59 to become uncertain and not positive. To avoid this possibility, is the further function of the parts 54, 55, 56, 57 and 61. By providing the links 54 mounted as shown, it will be obvious that the springfil tends to move the arm 57 towards the left. This arrangement of the parts in connection with the lost motion mounting of the links 54 prevents any possible balancing or fluttering of the parts with the points 60 on the radial line of the roller 59 and insures a positive action of the lever 49 in each case. If it were not for the lost motion connection of the links 54, the roller might assume a dead center position over the V point 60, so that the arm 57 and the lever 49 would not be actuated positively in either direction. Under this condition, the valve 24 might close for the reasons givenabove, and with the pressure thus shut ofl, the roller never would clear the point 60. However, on account of the angle of the links 54, with the lost motion connection at 55, the point 60 cannever reach such a balanced or centered position. Before the point 60 reaches a centered position on the roller 59, the arm- 57 is thrown to the left, the distance permitted by the lost motion connection at 55, which distance is of such magnitude that the point 60 is always carried "past center on the roller 59 and the right hand angle face then positively actuates the arm 57 and thereby the lever 49, moving them to the limit in the opposite direction. This construction and resulting action entirely eliminates the undesirable results just mentioned, the valve always being moved'quickly to either fully closed or fully opened position. It thus a pears that when the device is not in .use an the valve in the chuc'kll is closed,-

air willflow into the service boss 11? until the pressure against the diaphragm is greatcan.nel'iilian necessary to overcome thetension of the spring 36, so that the lever34 will be actuated'to move to position for germitti gthe valve'24 to close. So long as t e pressu remains up in the service hose, the device will remain inoperative. When the chuck is placed over the valve stem, the pressure in the air line on the service hose side of the valve 24 will be reduced, thus permitting the spring 36 to actuate the lever 34 for causing the trip mechanism to move to position for opening the valve'24. In this connection, it may be said that when air in a single service'hose'is used and a device of this kind is interposedin the air line and is set for delivering a certain pressure in the tire, it is necessary that the device be partially actuated according to the pressure in the tire. This is accomplished by providing a mechanism which frequently closes the control valve 24 and permits the pressure in the service hose, the tire and the diaphragm chamber to' be equalized, so that if the pressure in the tire is then below the pressure required to actuate thediaphragm and the lever 34 for moving the latter to position permitting the valve 24 to close, the lever 34 will be actuated for opening the valve and allowing flow from the receiver 10' to the tire. Thus in the operation of the machine, the air is delivered to the tire in charges and the valve 24 is successively opened and closed. After the de livery of each charge to the tire, the mechanism is actuated to close the valve, whereupon it becomes subjected to a pressure which is substantially that in the tire. If that pressure is great enough; to overcome the spring pressure, the valve 24 remains closed, but if it is not great enough, the cycle of operation continues.

- The pressure for which the device is set is visibly indicated on the dial and the continuance of the o eration of the device is indicated by the bell As illustrated, the apparatus is intended to operate automatically .so as to make it un-.

, necessary to test pressure from time to time up to a maximum pressure that may be supplied to a receiver of eighty pounds. If the tire requires air under greater pressure than eighty pounds, the controlling device is initially set for eighty pounds so that the apparatus may automatically 0 erate to this limit and when this limit has een reached,

the sleeve 37 is further turned in a spring tensioning direction, thereby moving the rod 68 to turn the arm 69 in a direction to posi- I tion the roller 26 to hold the valve 24 0 en against the pressure of the spring 25 so t at the filling of the tire is completed in accordancewith prior practice, it being now necessary to test pressure of the air in the tire from time to. time. The rod 68 is desirably operated by the outer end of the spring 36, when this spring is tensioned beyond its nor-' mal ran e. If preferred, where tires are i? be supphed'with air under ressure in exc of eighty pounds, the ban e 38 may be i tially turned to a sufiicient extent to ma:

- the air pressure in the tire from time to time with air comprisingl throughout the entire filling operation. The valvin mechanism disclosed herein replaces the re ucing valving mechanism which has hitherto been employed but it is obvious that m inventionis of advantage in conjunction with either kind of valving mechanism.

Changes may be made without departing from the invention.

What I claim is: 1. Apparatus for filling pneumatic tires a source of air under pressure, a flexible ose adapted to be con nected to a pneumatic tire, means connectin the source of ressure with the hose, sai means comprising a valve and a regulating device, the regulatin device comprising means for opening sai valve when pressure in said hose drops below a predetermined point and closing the valveonly when the pressure in the hose rises materially above said point, and an adjusting device for'said regulating means for adjusting the point at which the valve will ope throughout the range of pressures common y used for pneumatic tires, and means, including a lever operable by said adjusting device, for engagement with said valve and rendered operable by movement of said adjusting device beyond the normal range of operation of said regulating device to maintain communication between the source of pressure and the hose regardless of pressure in the hose.

2. The combination with a source of air under pressure, of piping through which air is conveyed from said source to -a reservoir, a valve between said source and piping, a member operable in one direction b pressure of air from said piping, mechanism, in-

cluding a spring, for operating said mem-.

her in the opposite direction, mechanism interposed between said member and valve and normally moving the valve to closed position when said member is movemf" by air pressure from said pipe and opening the valve when the member is moved bysaid spring, means, includin a lever operable by said spring mechanism or engagement with said valve means,-preventing the valve closmg operatlon of said member mechamsm' 1n -res onse to the movement of said member,

an a manually operable device for rendering the last said means operable'at will.

3. The combination with a source of air under pressure, of piping through which air is, conveyed from said source to a reservoir,

.itvalve between said source and piping, a

member operable in one direction by pressure of air from said piping, mechanism, including a spring for operating said member in the opposite direction, mechanism interposed between said member and valve and normally moving the valve to closed position when said member is moved by air pres- .sure from said pipe and o ning the valve operation of said-member mechanism in response to the movement of said member, a

manually operable device for adjusting the tension of said spring, and connections whereb adjustmentof the tension of the spring beyond its normal range renders operative the last said means.

4. Apparatus for filling containers .with

air comprising a source of air under pres-. sure, ,pipmg adapted to lead air fromsald source to a container, a valve between said source and piping, pressure regulating mechanism' dependent upon pressure in said pip: ing, means for snapping the valve to fully opened or fully closed position upon operation of said mechanism, said mechanism including an adjustable regulating device adjusting the pressure at which the valve is opened during a normal range, and means including a lever operable'by said adjustable regulating device, for enga ement with said 'valve means, rendering sai mechanism inoperative to close the valve when the regulating device is adjusted beyond its normal range.

5. Apparatus for filling containers with compressed air ccmprisin a source of air under pressure, piping a apted to connect said source witha container, a valve between adjustable regulating means, forengagement with said vave means, for maintalning the valve constantly open when the regulating means is adjusted beyond said'normal range.

6. The combination with a source of air under pressure; of piping through which air is conveyed from said source to a receiver;

a valve between said source and piping; mechanism, connected with said piping and operable by air admitted thereto or opening and closing said valve, including a diaphragm chamber having a diaphragm therein a lever enabling closing of the valve and subject to actuation for this purpose by move ment of the diaphragm in one direction; spring mechanism connected to said lever for movement of said lever in the opposite direction, said spring mechanism being regulable to vary the pressure at which the diaphragm will be efiective to enable closure of the valve;'and' means, operating when ICU said spring mechanism is ad'usted beyond its normal range, including a ever operable by" said spring mechanism for engagement with said valve; whereby, when and spring mechanism is adjusted beyond its normal range, said valve is held open to permit passage of air to the piping at a higher pressure than that permissible bythe air operated mechanism controlled by said spring-mechw anism. y y

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name to this ecification.

THOMA M. MANSON. 

